Frank Popp Ensemble recently released “Right Before My Eyes,” featuring Paul Weller. This historic collaboration marks Frank Popp as the first German artist to work with the legendary British musician on an original track, uniting two distinctive voices across generations and musical traditions. The track is now out via Unique Records / Schubert Music Europe, distributed by Believe

The track features Weller’s vocals through with raw emotion, delivering lyrics that confront the uncomfortable truths of our time, while his guitar work weaves through Frank Popp’s production. Popp’s arrangements recall some the golden era of Northern Soul and Funk. “It is an incredible honor for me to be able to work with this icon of music history, the ‘Modfather‘,” Popp explains.

Lyrically, Weller tackles the escalating injustices unfolding across the world – people forced to flee their homes, systematic exploitation, endless wars waged in the names of governments and religious leaders who have lost all touch with reality. The song’s title captures the unbearable irony: all of this horror is happening right before the eyes of the world, in plain sight, yet continues unabated. It’s the kind of unflinching commentary that has defined his entire career, from The Jam’s working-class anthems to his ongoing commitment to speaking truth through music, bringing the weight of fifty years of experience and conviction to every line.

For Frank Popp, this collaboration represents the fulfillment of a lifelong musical obsession. As a teenager in 1980s Germany, he discovered The Jam’s energy through tracks like “That’s Entertainment” and “Town Called Malice.” Soon after, he was dancing wildly to The Style Council’s “Shout To The Top” in Hilden’s small-town disco JWD, attempting to impress girls with the smooth sophistication of “My Ever Changing Moods.” Weller’s solo work continued to haunt his imagination, with “You Do Something To Me” serving as a direct inspiration for the new track.

Popp and Weller had harboured the idea of collaborating for years, yet life kept intervening – tours, album releases, and the demands of family and normal existence repeatedly pushed the project back. Then, suddenly, everything clicked into place this year. From Weller’s simple text message “Now it’s time” to the finished song took just two weeks, a whirlwind of creative energy that produced a track destined to linger far longer in listeners’ minds.

After years spent producing other bands, designing posters, and booking legendary acts in Berlin, Popp returned to his own musical project in 2023 with the critically acclaimed album “Shifting.” This April saw the release of “Waves,” an even more conceptual and flowing work featuring collaborations with Nicke Andersson of The Hellacopters, Gerry Love of Teenage Fanclub, and more.

Order “Right Before My Eyes” by Frank Popp ft: Paul Weller HERE